Couldn't Get This One Legal
Topic 27668 | Page 2
Thank you for all the info provided here. I thought I had the tandem shift weights burned into my skull. Now I have another scenario to look out for. Good to know that the reefers can shift 5-600 lb. If all goes as I hope and I end up on the Swift Walmart account, I’ll be pulling dry and reefer and this very well may come in handy if I come across newer reefers.
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
Another thing that will give a heavier reading is having the truck in gear on the scale, as well as having the brakes engaged (foot brake or parking brakes pulled).
Don't forget to take into account that Cat scales weigh heavy intentionally. It's part of the reason they can guarantee you won't be overweight, unless you make yourself overweight after scaling it.
CAT Scale:
A network of over 1,500 certified truck scales across the U.S. and Canada found primarily at truck stops. CAT scales are by far the most trustworthy scales out there.
In fact, CAT Scale offers an unconditional Guarantee:
“If you get an overweight fine from the state after our scale showed your legal, we will immediately check our scale. If our scale is wrong, we will reimburse you for the fine. If our scale is correct, a representative of CAT Scale Company will appear in court with the driver as a witness”
Cat Scales:
A network of over 1,500 certified truck scales across the U.S. and Canada found primarily at truck stops. CAT scales are by far the most trustworthy scales out there.
In fact, CAT Scale offers an unconditional Guarantee:
“If you get an overweight fine from the state after our scale showed your legal, we will immediately check our scale. If our scale is wrong, we will reimburse you for the fine. If our scale is correct, a representative of CAT Scale Company will appear in court with the driver as a witness”
One other thing worth mentioning is many of our reefers have 2 units, 1 in the front like most reefers then one about halfway in hanging from the top that extends the width of the trailer perhaps that is why more weight is shifting? I talked to another driver at the yard and he said he has similiar issues when it's all orange juice but he's able to get it barely legal when he scales it. To avoid it they usually split the orange juice between the 2 trailers we pick up daily then fill it with juice and sweet tea that weighs less. For some reason not today.
Whenever I scale I put it in neutral, dont set the brakes and turn the truck off so I can hear them better.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
When you scale, adjusting either forward or back, your gross weight WILL change. I don't know why, it just does and as long as I'm not over gross, I don't worry about it.
Haven't thought out the wherefores or whyases, cause when it's correct, I'm down the road listening to an audio book or music ;-)
Laura
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I was always told not to be over on steer or on gross. I've heard they will usually give you a 500 pound cushion personally I dont like to test it, but 20 pounds I wouldn't hesitate over.
Just tell the weigh master you had a big meal.